In Korean, "doollae-gil" means a road that goes all the way around, and the Chirisan Doollae-Gil is a 224km route divided into 22 sections that wind through the foothills of Chiri mountain in the central-southern part of Korea. To the west are the provinces of North and South Cheolla, and to the east is South Gyeongsang province. Along the north run the streams that feed the Nakdong river; and the rains that fall south of Chiri mountain flow to the Seomjin river.

For me, the Chirisan Doolla-Gil is often strenuous enough to be tiring but not so effortful that I don't want to go back the next time. The natural surrounding are envigorating, and it frequently feels on the trail that I'm completely cut off from civilization. But the distances to roads and villages are never far, and it's virtually impossible to get genuinely lost. Along the way are the people, the culture and the reminders of local history, which include ancient archeological ruins, recent sites from the Korean War, and temples, museums and markets. There are lots of places to stay, people to meet, food and drinks to enjoy, and other local curiosities.

Getting to just about any starting point on the trail is little more than a half-day journey for me Seoul by public transport, and with so many facilities along the way, I don't have to carry much in my backpack, either.

I started walking the Doollae-Gil from Section 2 in late 2012, and have been making my way around, sometimes alone and sometimes with others.

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Walking the Chirisan Doollae-Gil (2012-2014)

In Korean, "doollae-gil" means a road that goes all the way around, and the Chirisan Doollae-Gil is a 224km route divided into 22 sections that wind through the foothills of Chiri mountain in the central-southern part of Korea. To the west are the provinces of North and South Cheolla, and to the east is South Gyeongsang province. Along the north run the streams that feed the Nakdong river; and the rains that fall south of Chiri mountain flow to the Seomjin river.

For me, the Chirisan Doolla-Gil is often strenuous enough to be tiring but not so effortful that I don't want to go back the next time. The natural surrounding are envigorating, and it frequently feels on the trail that I'm completely cut off from civilization. But the distances to roads and villages are never far, and it's virtually impossible to get genuinely lost. Along the way are the people, the culture and the reminders of local history, which include ancient archeological ruins, recent sites from the Korean War, and temples, museums and markets. There are lots of places to stay, people to meet, food and drinks to enjoy, and other local curiosities.

Getting to just about any starting point on the trail is little more than a half-day journey for me Seoul by public transport, and with so many facilities along the way, I don't have to carry much in my backpack, either.

I started walking the Doollae-Gil from Section 2 in late 2012, and have been making my way around, sometimes alone and sometimes with others.